Anna-Louise Coaching

20/12/2025

This is SO hard.

Recently, despite training load being lower than it has been previously, my body was screaming at me to rest.

Injuries, flu not going away, a spotty face, anxiety through the roof, auto-immune condition raging, insatiable hunger…I could go on.

Now this isn’t another post telling you how important it is to rest – we did that one recently, ironically…

It’s just an ‘I’m with you’, I get it.

You can know ALL of the ‘right’ things to do for you, you know exactly what you would tell a friend or your sister in the same situation but implementation of that is SO hard when there are your pesky emotions getting involved and your own ‘stuff’ at stake.

It’s hard, but it’s necessary. So, I’ll just be over here talking to myself with compassion, trying really hard to play the long game and implement what I absolutely know to be true, despite what my troublesome brain tells me.

The accountability of a coach who very much keeps me in check and tells me to rest helps too! Thank you!
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18/12/2025

Arguably the most committed team member of the charity project tribe for MOVE Against Cancer – attends all training sessions required with zero complaints…unlike myself the last couple of weeks. Have needed to give my brain a shake, more on that later in the week!

Tiny but mighty I reckon he’s ready for the new year to kick off with more miles of dealing with my general chaos, too much caffeine and the 00s R&B playlist on repeat.

Duck diaries to be continued… ✌🏼🌻🖤

16/12/2025

In partnership with Club Coaction, M Heath Mechanical Services and POC Cycling - I am so excited ✌🏼🌻🖤

Help Anna Powell raise money to support MOVE

16/12/2025

At last, we’re parents.

The newest member of this chaotic team – already running the house, zero concept of personal space, toddler energy, shares our ridiculous appetites, occasionally feral, absolutely no personal boundaries, and the centre of our universe. We’re obsessed.

The perfect addition to our little family – a rescue, but I’m pretty sure he might rescue me a bit too when he stops giving me worse anxiety 🥹

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13/12/2025

First of all, what is melatonin? It’s a hormone that we make in our clever little bodies that promotes sleep but it’s also an over-the-counter supplement in a number of countries.

As we age, our production of melatonin slows down which is one of the reasons why in menopause, we might struggle to sleep.

The research around its use to support sleep is mostly good BUT it isn’t without possible side effects and it’s also worth bearing in mind that supplements aren’t subject to the same stringent regulations that prescription medications are, and actual melatonin content is often pretty low so it’s worth checking what you are getting before you spend your hard earned pennies.
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11/12/2025

Work on something you are actually interested in, something you actually enjoy.

If you are having fun – ‘enjoying the process’ is that buzz phrase now – of course you have a better chance of succeeding because you’ll stick with it when it gets tough.

If it gets tough and you didn’t like it from the start how much more likely are you to quit?
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09/12/2025

Already I have learned that we are all FAR more capable than we ever imagine.

It’s slightly scary to say out loud but this charity project for me has become a little bit more than a ‘slog it round to get it done’ type challenge. I am starting to believe that I can push my body, I can push harder than I imagine, I can move at paces I didn’t think possible.

Working with a coach helps with that one for sure

We are too ‘in our own heads’ to be programming for ourselves, we are limited by our brains and emotions – we NEED someone detached from that who can see a potential beyond the limitations you place on yourself.
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06/12/2025

Something I have seen a lot of chat about just lately is the importance of taking a rest day and I’m SO here for it.

I don’t really believe that for the majority of people, over-training is a thing. If you think you’re over-training, think about the training volume of an elite athlete then tell me you’re over-training.

However, what I do believe it a thing is under-recovery. You likely have far less time to focus on recovery than an elite athlete does.

We can often fall into the trap of thinking more is better, that is NOT the case. It takes a long time to get your head around that but ‘junk’ training volume is NOT making you better.

What if you implemented proper rest and recovery and could hit your next workout with big intensity? I promise you that’s more beneficial to your physical progress than getting two or three half-arsed ones!
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04/12/2025

…especially when you're training for a big charity project and currently full of Lemsip.If you’ve been following my training for the MOVE Against Cancer challenge, you’ll know I’ve been building up the miles — cycling and swimming while I continue to rehab an ankle injury. But this week, t...

04/12/2025

I wrote a blog almost a year ago now when I was working in primary care in New Zealand about the rise in weight loss drugs which was simply shocking to me – you can find it here if you didn’t see it — https://www.annalouisecoaching.co.uk/post/should-i-be-taking-weight-loss-medication

Now there are many considerations when it comes to taking weight loss drugs and the many different types and I’m NOT a medical professional and you should always take the guidance of your medical team, but the number of individuals not prescribed the medication but still taking it is sad and often (not always!) unnecessary.

Sickness, diarrhoea, constipation, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, potentially higher risk of other associated diseases, including blood pressure implications – all in the pursuit of weight loss that is often unhealthy, particularly from a mindset perspective?

THAT is what is wrong with the health and ‘well-being’ industry.
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03/12/2025

Topical if you’re full of winter nasties like me!

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…especially when you're training for a big charity project and currently full of Lemsip.If you’ve been following my training for the MOVE Against Cancer challenge, you’ll know I’ve been building up the miles — cycling and swimming while I continue to rehab an ankle injury. But this week, t...